African striped grunt (Parapristipoma octolineatum)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Haemulidae · Genus: Parapristipoma.

Accepted name: Parapristipoma octolineatum · Authority: (Valenciennes, 1833) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 126945.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Diagramma octolineatum (Valenciennes, 1833); Pristipoma octolineatum Valenciennes, 1833.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126945 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Parapristipoma octolineatum. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 50 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Depth range: 1–60 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 44.4 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Occurs in shallow waters from the shoreline to about 50 m on sand or rocky bottom. Feeds on crustaceans and mollusks (Ref. 5535).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8092) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Parapristipoma-octolineatum.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

196 georeferenced occurrence records for Parapristipoma octolineatum are published through GBIF from 11 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 37 distinct locations from a sample of 196 records, omitting 24 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Spain (130); Senegal (27); Angola (10); Portugal (10); Mauritania (6); Cabo Verde (4); Morocco (3); Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2); France (2); Côte d’Ivoire (1); Guinea-Bissau (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: European waters (ERMS scope); Mediterranean Sea.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382486) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382486&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126945 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Parapristipoma octolineatum (Valenciennes, 1833) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 194428) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194428/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382486) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382486/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The African striped grunt has an elongated body. It has a large eye and a large, oblique mouth with an obvious chin and a short snout. It has a continuous dorsal fin which contains 13 spines and 14-15 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7 soft rays. It appears black underwater but in fact the upper body is brownish, while the lower body has a silvery appearance.

It has four white, horizontal stripes along each flank, two of these running through the black eyes. The fins are yellow in colour, with the caudal fin being more vivid than the others. The maximum standard length of this species is 50 cm, although a more typical standard length is 25 cm.

Distribution

The African striped grunt is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It ranges along the western coast of Africa from Angola in the south north to Morocco, including the islands in the Gulf of Guinea and the Macaronesian Islands and the southern Iberian Peninsula, into the southern Mediterranean as far as east as Tunisia. Vagrancy has occurred in the Bay of Biscay off the western coast of France.

Habitat and biology

The African striped grunt occurs at depths between 2 and 180 m. It is found over sandy and rocky substrates where it feeds on crustaceans and molluscs. The males and females form distinct pairs for spawning. The juveniles move inshore to take up territories.

Systematics

The African striped grunt was first formally described in 1833 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes with the type locality given as Gorée in Senegal. The specific name octolineatum means "eight-lined", a reference to the four stripes on each flank.

Utilisation

The African striped grunt is occasionally caught throughout its range, however, it is apparently not common and the catch is not reported separately. It is caught using trammel nets, bottom trawls and hook and line. The catch is largely sold fresh.

Source: Wikipedia: African striped grunt — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_striped_grunt (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.